Bedford Borough Local Plan 2040 Plan for Submission

Comment

Representation ID: 9233

Received: 02/07/2022

Respondent: Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park will establish a new green/blue multifunctional parkland corridor along which the ultimate aim is to create a waterway linking the Grand Union Canal at Milton Keynes with the River Great Ouse in Bedford. It will enhance opportunities for flood risk management in the upper Ouse catchment area and for water transfer from the distribution network in the west to the drier areas of East Anglia. Last but not least it will provide the opportunity to close a small but very significant gap in the UK waterway network.
The Waterway Park can build on the achievements of the Marston Vale Community Forest in regenerating parts of the corridor and creating new habitats between Bedford and Milton Keynes. And like the Forest, the Waterway Park will be deliverable in parts in combination with appropriate environmental management plans. It will set the context for, and embed new natural capital into, expanding communities thus contributing towards the Government’s commitment to its biodiversity as well as health and wellbeing targets.
The Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust acts as an advocate for the new Waterway Park and works with the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Consortium partners to develop a strong business case for the project.

Support

Representation ID: 9234

Received: 02/07/2022

Respondent: Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

The B&MK Waterway Trust welcomes the emphasis that the draft Plan places on the Waterway Park as a strategic green/blue infrastructure project. In particular the Trust supports The South of Bedford Strategic policy area and the ambition to support the delivery of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Park as part of the green/blue infrastructure for the area. The Trust supports policy HOU12 especially the focus on enhancing natural capital by continuing to deliver the Forest of Marston Vale and enhancing the multifunctional green infrastructure network to provide the basis for distinctive place making.
The Trust strongly supports the proposal for a strategic place making framework to guide development across the South of Bedford policy area which will be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document. The Trust would wish to be involved as a stakeholder in the preparation of the SPD. With regard to Figure 5, the concept plan for the South of Bedford area, the Trust considers that it flags up the opportunity to more closely realign NCN 51 along the route of the Waterway.

Support

Representation ID: 9235

Received: 02/07/2022

Respondent: Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

With regard to specific locations the Trust supports Policy HOU13 Land at Gibraltar Corner, and its reference to provision of land to facilitate the Bedford to Milton Keynes Waterway Park to the east of the housing allocation.

Support

Representation ID: 9236

Received: 02/07/2022

Respondent: Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust

The Trust also strongly supports the inclusion of the route of the Waterway Park in the Key Diagram.